Nine drinking water providers under boil-water advisory

Nine small public drinking water systems in southeastern Connecticut are among 82 that are under a boil-water advisory issued Wednesday by the Department of Public Health.

Consumers of water systems that are experiencing power outages and do not have a backup power source should boil water before use as a precautionary measure.

The state health department is monitoring these systems and working to contact other small public drinking water systems to determine their status and offer assistance. Affected public water systems will notify customers if a boil water advisory is announced.

The local systems affected by the advisory are: Kitemaug Orchard Association, Oakridge Gardens, Oakridge Village, Meadows Apartments and Fox Laurel Mobile Home Park, all in Montville; Mile Creek Apartments, Lyme Regis, and Boxwood Condominium Association, all in Old Lyme; and Crystal Lake Condominiums, in Salem.

Residential customers who have been advised by their water system of a boil-water advisory should:

Safely boil their water by bringing it to a rolling boil for one minute.

Use boiled or bottled water when cooking, washing fruits and vegetables, brushing teeth, washing hands for cooking and making baby formula.

Boiled water should be allowed to cool to a safe temperature before drinking and handling.

Those without gas or electricity to heat water can purify water with 8 drops (¼ teaspoon) of liquid household bleach that is at least 5.25 percent hypochlorite solution per gallon of water. Use 16 drops per gallon of water for cloudy water. The water should be stirred and allowed to stand for at least 30 minutes before use.

Public health officials recommend adding 8 drops of bleach (about ¼ teaspoon) to each gallon of water. The water should be stirred and allowed to stand for at least 30 minutes before use.

For a complete list of the 82 systems under a boil water advisory, visit: http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/communications/cerc/sandy_boilwater.pdf. The list will be updated daily.